Contents:
- Medical Video: Benefits Of Reading
- The benefits of reading books to shape a person's character and personality
- Empathy can grow even if you read a different language book
- The benefits of reading other books that you can get
Medical Video: Benefits Of Reading
For people who like to read books, the story line presented by the author can be a temporary escape from the fatigue of the real world. However, the benefits of reading books are not limited to enriching imagination and information. Science proves, reading increases brain activity and analytical skills that reflect how a person behaves and manages his emotions. Reading books can also make you a better person, which can be seen in how you can empathize with others around you.
The benefits of reading books to shape a person's character and personality
A 2013 study at Emory University compared the results of brain scans between people who like reading and those not on an MRI scan. previously each participant was asked to read a classic literature book. Researchers found that brain activity of people who like reading mainly increased in the area of language understanding and movement visualization. The functions of these two brain regions play an important role in building one's emotions and empathy.
This was further proven in a study by Matthijs Bal and Martijn Verltkamp, still in the same year. Both investigate how far your emotions carry when reading a book - for example what you feel when the main character reaches a success, and how you feel sorry, angry or jealous of a character - can build your sensitivity to the feelings of others in the real world.
Here's how simple: Imagine you're stranded alone on an island in the middle of nowhere. Without technology, without food supplies, without clean clothes. The mood and despair you feel (and think about) when you imagine the scenario is like making yourself really lost, right? The same process also occurs when you imagine yourself as a character in a book, so you can empathize with the emotions they feel.
Empathy can grow even if you read a different language book
A recent study from the University of South Carolina (USC) through brain scan MRI found that the brain can still respond to storylines to develop empathy for others even when reading books written in other languages, such as English.
This research invited 9 participants from America, China and Iran to read books. There are 3 languages provided in this study, namely Mandarin, English and Persian Arabic. While reading a book, their brains are "read" with an MRI machine, while asking questions about the story.
Morteza Dehghani, one of the researchers from Brain and Creativity Institute at USC, said that although the writing language is different, the brain can still generate a general response to understand the flow and content of the story. Pthe participants can feel empathy from the content of the story. This applies generally in the brains of all humans, regardless of where the character, culture, and origin of the story originates.
Especially for readers of classical literature, their brains show a higher level of empathy when compared to readers of modern literature.
The benefits of reading other books that you can get
Besides being able to increase empathy for others, the benefits of reading books also affect the physical health of the body. Reading books provides calm and lowers blood pressure. In addition, reading presents a world of imagination and an alternative as a temporary escape from real-world problems, as mentioned above. Therefore, reading books can prevent someone from experiencing stress and depression.
In addition, reading is the same as training one's concentration and focus so that it can make it easier for them to do multitasking and sharpen brain power in the ability to remember and analyze. Therefore, people who are diligent in reading are known to have a far lower risk of various types of brain diseases, such as dementia and Alzheimer's.
